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Focused on the Light

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (John 1:5).

Several years ago I received a telescope for Christmas. I haven’t had the chance to use it much, although I’m still intrigued by the skies and the wonders they contain.

The first time I used the telescope, I was excited to see what I could in the evening sky. I directed it skyward and moved it around, looking for stars to observe. Suddenly I saw some. They were bright. I was so excited and proud of myself. I wanted to remember exactly which stars I’d observed, so I pulled my eye away to look up at the sky.

What could it be: The Big Dipper? Orion? No, it was just the white lights my husband, Brian, had strung on one of the trees in our yard. So much for becoming a great astronomer. So much for being focused—at least on something worthwhile.

How easy it is to be searching for something good and worth focusing on—only to find oneself distracted by something that glitters and shines but is essentially empty and meaningless.

It’s easy to lose our focus on the things that really matter. All too often the blessings God gives us—our families, friends, home, grace, love, forgiveness—can become lost in the shadow of something that blinds and dazzles us with its light and allure. We can be so quickly drawn away from the things that matter. We can quickly be drawn away from the one, true Light.

In the season of Epiphany, our attention is drawn to Jesus, the Light of the world. The weekly lessons, with their stories of kings and gifts, baptisms and miracles call for our attention. Our eyes are drawn to God’s most radiant Light. This Light is to be our focus. This Light is to illumine every aspect of our lives.

During these weeks of Epiphany, allow the Light to be your focus. Allow the Light of Christ to be your beacon, shining in every facet of your life and giving you direction and purpose.

Other lights may dazzle. But only the one, true Light will endure. Only the Son of God can bring light to our souls.

Have you received your January issue of The Lutheran? What did you think? Would you recommend it to others? What did we do that you appreciated — or didn't appreciate? What did we do right? What could we improve?

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